Coal-loading machine



Dec. 16, 1930. N. D. I EvlN COAL LOADING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l IZI OISginal Filed Au Dec. 16, 1930.

N. D. LEVIN C OAL LOADI NG MACH INE Original Filed Aug. 8. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1930. N. D. I EvlN 1,785,201

COAL LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 8, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l l l l l Dec. 16, 1930. N. D. LEvlN 1,785,201

coAL LoADI'NG MACH-INE` Original Filed Aug- 8, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 e a Een @[226 u s o9-o, -Q a o A V [fig/3 Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE NILS D. LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO COAL-LOADING MACHINE 4Application filed August 8, 1924, Serial No. 730,951. Renewed March 27, 1930.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in coal loading ma-A chines and particularly to machines adapted to gather the dislodged and disrupted coal from the door of the mine and load it into suitably positioned receptacles for transportation from the mine.

The usual method of mining coal comprises the drilling of holes into the body of the vein, and the `detonat-ion therein of suitable eX- plosives Vto blast out fragments which are afterwards'loaded into cars, or other conveying instrumentalities, for transportation from the mine.

Itis a common, though not universal, practice to form ylrerfs in the body of the coal, usually as near the mine floor as possible, to facilitate breaking down the coal above the kerf. These kerfs are commonly formed by mining machines having supporting devices positioned in a somewhat lower plane than the cutting devices by which the kerfs are produced, resulting in an uneven floor composed of a succession of offsets, or steps. Numerous attempts have heretofore been made to adapt loading machines, comprising conveyers associated with gathering devices of various sorts, to the mechanical taking up of the loose, broken coal from the floor of the mine, and loading it into suitably posi tioned cars for transportation from the mine. rEhe irregularities of the mine floor produced by the action of the mining machine above referred to, or to the irregular breaking of the coal when no underlerf is formed, have constituted obstacles which seriously interfere with the economical operation of loading machines such as have been heretofore constructed. Frequently the force of the blast is expended without thoroughly disrupting the coal, leaving it standing in com-V paratively large fragments interlocked in a mass too compact to be handled by the gathering devices of the machine heretofore constructed. In such cases these interloclred fragments must be manuallydislodged, materially ,increasing the labor of loading coal, and correspondingly reducing the eiiiciency of the machine.

In my copending application Serial No.

l86,650, filed July 2l, 1921, thereis disclosed a loading machine adapted to gather the dislodged coal from the floor of the mine and load it into cars, or other transporting instrumentalities, adapted to travel along lines parallel with the coal face'. 1 However, the machine there disclosed contains certain in! herent defects which it is the object of this invention to overcome.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement of parts whereby the partially shattered coal `may be dislodged and may be more efficiently gathered into the loading conveyor.

Another object is to provide improved devices whereby the coal Gathering devices may be more conveniently adjusted to the varying conditions encountered in the operation of the machine.

A further object is to provide improved conveying apparatus adapted to more effipliently gather the broken coal from the mine oor.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class described having improved conveying apparatus adapted to more eiiiciently transfer the broken coal to the transporting instrumentalities.

The means whereby I attain these, and

other objects, will be fully disclosed in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the forward end of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view'of the rear part of the machine illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the left hand side of the device illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the left hand side of the devices illustrated in Fig. 2. Y

,Fig 5 is an elevation of the right hand side of the forward end of the machine, the coal gathering arm being shown in transverse section. i

Fig. 6 is the forward part, and Fig. 7 the rearward part of a sectional view taken along the central longitudinal vertical plane of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIH of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 1X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a detail of the conveyor chain and ilights.

Fig. 12 is a detail of the feeding mechanism.

Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating methods of operating the machine.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, the operative parts of the machine are mounted upon a base plate 1 which is stiffened by suitable angle bars 2, to form a supporting pan adapted to slide in any direction over the floor of the mine. Securely attached to the base plate 1 is a main frame 3 composed of suitable castings shaped to supply journal bearin o's for the various power devices of the machine. A motor 4 is mounted upon the main frame 3 to supply the pow-er by which the various elements of the machine are actuated. The motor l may be of any preferred type suitable to the conditions under which the machine operates. For purposes of illustration l have shown an electric motor adapted to receive its actuating current, through suitable conductor cables, from any convenient source of electric supply, and provided with convenient controlling devices, but as such devices are well understood in the art, and as they form no part in the present invention, further description and illustra-tion is not thought to be required at this time.

Mounted upon the main frame 3 is a gathering conveyer which is of the type comprising two parallel troughs positioned in substantially the same horizontal planes. This conveyer 5 has a forward horizontal receiving portion which rests directly upon the mine floor, a middle inclined portion, and a. rearward horizontal discharge portion. These parallel troughs comprise the bottom plates G and 7 the flaring side walls 8 and the inner upright side wall 9. The inner side walls 9 are built up of suitably shaped bars to form the guidcways wherein travels the endless conveyer chain 10. ln Fig. 11 of the drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustration a form of conveyer chain which is especially adapted to the purposes of this invention. As here illustrated the conveyer chain comprises aseries of links 11 having laterally projecting lugs 12 to which the conveyer flights are secured by suitable rivets, or other approved fastenings, To the ends of the links 11 are attached, for movement about the vertical pintles 13, connecting links 14; and 15, and these connecting links are connected together in pairs by the horizontal pintles 16 to render the chain flexible in both horizontal and vertical planes so that it may follow the contour of the conveyer. lt is to be understood, however, that any other form of chain which is adapted to flexure in both vertical and horizontal planes may be substituted for that above described Without departure from the spirit of my invention.

Attached to certain of the links 11 of the conveyer chain are carrier flights 17, formed of relatively thin horizontally disposed plates, having their lateral edges beveled, as at 18, to permit them to slide under the fragments of coal, and to lift said coal from the mine floor and carry it onto and along the conveyer trough. Attached to others of the links 11, between the flights 17, are propeller flights 19 comprising vertically disposed Scrapers adapted to overcome the tendency of the coal to slip upon the surface of the conveyer trough and of the carrier flights, and to insure its continuous movement along said trough. At the forward end of the conveyer the chain 10 passes around a curved guideway 20 which projects somewhat beyond the end of the trough plates 6 and 7 so that the flights 17 and 19 contact directly with the mine floor as they turn from one trough to the other, and the forward edges of the plates 6 and 7 are inclined rearwardly to facilitate the transfer of coal from the mine floor to the conveyer trough. At the rearward end of the conveyer the chain 1() passes around a sprocket wheel 21 by which said chain is actuated. The sprocket wheel 21 is positioned a material distance beyond the ends of the trough plates 6 and 7 to permit the coal to fall between the conveyer flights before they begin to turn about the sprocket wheel. 21.

A scraper 22 attached to the frame member .is adapted to engage material carried by the carrier flights 17 to insure against such n'xaterial being carried into the return trough of the conveyer. To prevent the lod gment of lumps of coal between the edges of the carrier flights 17 and of the scraper 22, and the consequent jamming of the conveyer, the edges of said flights 17 and the scraper 22 are oppositely curved. as shown in Figure 2, to produce such Obliquity in their angular relation that intervening lumps of coal will be ejected thereby rearwardly of the machine.

The sprocket wheel 21 is keyed to a vertical Vshaft 24 and to this shaft is secured a bevel gear 25 which engages the bevel pinion 26 attached to a longitudinally extending power shaft 27. The shaft 27 is connected by a pair of miter gears 28 and 29 with a vertical shaft 30, and this in turn is connected with a horizontal longitudinally eX- tending shaft 31 through the bevel gears 32 lill' fil'l and 33. These shafts are all supported in suitable journal bearings formed in the main frame castings, and the shaft 31 is connected wherein travels an endless chain V37 on the links of which are formed laterally projecting sockets 38. Cutter bits 39, similar to those used Vfor cutting kerfs in the coal, are secured in the sockets 38 in position to engage the dislodged coal lying upon the Hoor of the mine, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. The cutter chain 37 passes around and is actuated by a. sprocket wheel 40 fixed to the lower end of a vertical shaft 41 which is journaled in a suitable bearing formed concentric with the hub 42. The hub 42 may be formed integral with the frame of the gathering arm 36 and is pivotally supported in a sleeve 43 formed on the forward end of'a supporting bar 44. The supporting bar 44 extends rearwardly along the side of the machine, and is `pivotally attached to a lug 45 formed on the main frame casting 3. A similar lug 46 is formed on the opposite side of the machine to permit the transfer of the gathering arm to that side of the machine when .operating conditions require a reversal of the direction of operation. Near its forward end the supporting bar 44 is braced against lateral strains by the guideway 47 in which said bar is vertically adjustable by means of the adjusting screw 48. The proportions of these parts are such that the path of travel of the cutter bits 39, as they pass around the sprocket Wheel 40, closely approach the path of the outer ends of the conveyer flights 17 and 19.

Rotatable upon the vertical shaft 41 above the hub 42, is a sprocket wheel 49 connectable to said shaft by means of ajaw clutch 56 splined thereto. The shifting lever 51 affords means for controlling the engagement of the clutch 50 with the sprocket wheel 49 in the manner well understood inthe art. An endless driving chain 52 passes around the sprocket wheel 49 and the guide sheaves 53 and engages the sprocket wheel 54 fixed to the vertical power shaft 30 to transmit power from the motor 4 to the gathering chain 37. A shoe 55 adapted to contact with and slide upon the mine door, is attached to the gathering arm 36 near its outer end, and this shoe is provided with an adjusting screw 56 bythe manipulation of which the 'outer end of the gathering arm may be vertically adjusted relative to the floor of the mine.

The gathering arm 36 is held in the preferred angular relation with the longitudinal lines of the machine by a strut 57 extending from the outer end Vof said gathering arm to the main frame of the machine. Y This strut is preferably formed of two angle bars 5S and 59 which are connected together by suitable bolts 60, and a plurality of apertures 61 formed in the bars 58 and A59 provide means to vary the length of the strut 57 to adjust the angular relation of the gathering bar with the longitudinal lines of the machine.

Attached to the frame of the gathering arm 36 are two sockets 62 adapted to receive the supporting lugs 63 of an inclined shield plate 64, to hold said shield plate in position immediately behind the forward strand of the gathering chain 37 to confine dislodged material to the forward side of'said gathering arm. A scraper plate 65 attached to the lugs 63, is adapted to engage the fioor of the mine immediately in the rear of the gathering armV 36 and to confine fragments of material which might fall behind the gathering arm, or which might be carried around the sprocket wheel 40 by the gathering chain, to the path of said gathering chain, and thereby insure the recovery of said loose material. The proportions of these parts are such' that when the gathering arm 36 is transferredto the opposite side of the machine, the shield plate 64 and scraper 65 may be shifted to a corresponding relation with the side of the gathering arm which is then advancing.

Keyed to the vertical shaft 30 is a worm 66 which engages a worm wheel 67 attached to a short transversely extending shaft 68. Fixed to the shaft 68 at each side of the worm wheel 67 are sleeves 69 which are journaled in bearings 7 0 of the main frame, Vand thereby support the worm wheel 67. EX- tending outwardly from each end of the shaft 68, and in axial alignment therewith, are the extension shafts 71 the inner ends of which are journaled in the projecting ends of the sleeves 69, Athe outer ends being supported in the journal bearings 72 of the main frame.` Mounted for free rotation upon the shafts 71 adjacent the bearings 72, are two winding drums 73 and 74 to which are attached, and upon which are windable, the feed ropes 75 and 76 respectively. The winding drums 73 and 74 are connectable with the shafts 71 through gearing and clutch mechanism which being alike for both drums, a description of one` will apply to both.

Formed on the sleeve 69 is a cylindrical extension 77 which constitutes the driving ember of a multiple disc friction clutch, the driven member of which is a hub 7 8 keyed to the shaft 71 within the bounding planes of said cylindrical extension 77. These clutch members 77 and 78 are connected together by the engagement of a plurality of friction discs 7 9, alternate discs being connected to the driving` and driven members in the manner well understood in the art. To the outer end ot the cylindrical extension 7 7 is secured a disc 80 which is formed integral with a concentric sleeve 8l having,` a journal bearing upon the shaft r'1. liormed on the periphery or' the sleeve 81 is a screw thread to which is .fitted a nut 82 the inner tace of which is adapted to enoage a concentric ring To the ring 83 is attached a plurality of pins 84 which project through suitable apertures of the discs 8O and engage a presser plate S5 concentric and in contact with the friction disc 79. Nhen the nut 82 is rotated in one direction relative to the sleeve Sl the pins 84 are forced against the presser plate 35 to cause engagement of the friction discs 79, and to thereby drive the shaft 7l. When said nut is rotated in the opposite direction the pressure upon the discs 79 is relieved to permit the shaft 7l to remain idle. A spur gear 8G formed upon the periphery of the nut 92, engages a pinion 87 attached to the control shaft 8S which is journaled in suitable bearings oi: the main frame. A hand wheel 89 is provided upon the shaft 8S 'for the manipulation of the nut 82 and this nut may be rotated in either direction to control the actuation of the clutch. A ball bea-ring 90 interposed between the nut 82 and the ring 33 pre` vents undue friction between these parts. A similar hand wheel 91 attached to the control shaft J2 affords means to control the actuation ot the drum 74 in the manner above described.

Splined to the shaft 7l is a jaw clutch meinber 93 adapted to be moved longitudinally of said shaft by a suitable clutch lever 94 in the manner well understood in the art. When said clutch member is moved to its extreme outer position it engages suitable clutch `teeth termed on the inner face of the winding drum 73 to connect said drum directly with the shaft 7l to wind the rope 7 5 at a relatively high speed. Formed on the periphery7 of the clutch 93 is a spur pinion 95 adapted, when said clutch member is in its extreme iuner position, to mesh with the spur gear 96 fixed to the counter shaft 97. The counter sha-ft 97 is supported in suitable bearings of the main trame, and to its outer end is iixed a pinion 98 which engages the spur gear 99 formed integral with the winding` drum 73. These gears are of such proportions that when the clutch member 93 is in position to cause engagement between the gears and 9 6, the drum 73 will be driven to wind the rope 75 at a relatively slow speed. By suitable gradnation of the pressure applied to the discs 79 the friction clutch may be used as a brake to resist the rotation or" the drum 73 and retard the unwinding` of the rope 75. Since the actuating mechanism of the drums 7 3 and 74 are alike, the manipulation of the drinn 74 to control the rope 7 (3 is similar to that above described. By the devices above described either or both of the drums 73 and 74 may be rotated to wind their respective ropes at relatively fast speed suitable for handling the machine about the mine, or at a relatively slow speed suitable to ieed the machine to its work, or either or both oi' said drums may be held against rotation, to re. 'ist the unwinding;` et their respective ropes, for purposes which will be more fully hereinafter described. Suitable guiding sheaves lUO, lill, 192, 103, loe and are mounted upon the supporting` pan l at eachA side ot' the machine, and the feed ropes 75 and 75 may be passed arouiul any preferred guide sheaves, to lead said rope in any pret'erred direction, to be attached to a suitable anchor jack towards which the ma l 'ne may be drawn by the actuation ot the f )roya-.late drums. 'ffliere is also provided an auxiliary, or L; conveyor, of a construction similar to the main conveyor above described, ving.` a hopper like substantially horii ital receiving' portion 106, a middle inined portion lOT, and a horizontal deliveryv portion 193 adapted to project above the car 1.09 which is to bY loaded. rlhis auxiliary loading' conveyor is mounted upon the base frame 3 in such position that its hopper like receiving portion 10G will receive material discharged by the main conveyor, and the pivotal support is such that the delivery portion 108 may be swung to either side of the machine to extend above the cars positioned upon a track at either side oi the machine. The conveyor chain lll of the auxiliary conveyer is of the same type as that of the gathering conveyor, and is actuated by a sprocket wheel 13.2 fixed to the vertical power shaft 24. Propelling` flights 113 attached to the conveyer chain 111 propel. the material along the trough of the oonveyer, and since these flights are not required to gather material into the trough, no carrying' flights are required.

in the longwall system of mining, as usually perforn'ied, the coal is undercut along,` a working face oi' from two or three hundred feet to a thousand or more feet in length, as may best suit local conditions. Holes are drilled in the coal above the underkerii, and loaded With explosives the dote-nation oi1 which dis-lodges masses of coal from the bodv of the vein. These masses are usually shattered as to be suitable for loadinginto cars for transportation from the mine. After the coal has been thus shot down it lies in a heap upon the mine floor adjacent the Working face and extending along its length. The machine above described is especially adapted to reclaim coal from such ill;

a heap, and load it into suitably positionedl cars for transportation from the mine.

In the method of operation illustrated in F ig. 13,`a track 114 is laid upon the mine floor, spaced a suflicient distance from the face 115 of the coal vein to permit the coal to be shot down, as above described, without obstructing said track. After the coal has been thus dislodged, my vimproved loading machine is positioned at one end of the face 115, with the gathering arm 36 extending towards said face, its inner end in close proximity thereto. The rope 75 is then drawn out from the winding drum 73, passed around the guide sheave 100, and attached to a suitable anchor jack 116 in advance of the machine. The operator then manipulates the hand wheel 89 to actuate the drum 78 to wind the rope fr' 5 at the slow speed which is suitable for feeding, and thereby bodily move the machine over the floor of the mine `towardsthe coal which is to be loaded.

At the-same time the rope 76 is drawn out from its winding drum 74, passed around the guide sheave 105'and attached to a suitable anchor jack 117 positioned adjacent the working face in the rear of the machine. 'Ihe Vhand wheel 91 is then manipulated to resist the rotation of the drum 74 and thereby retard the unwinding of the rope 76 to maintain the angular relation ofthe machine to the coal face in a manner which is well understood in the art. In order to maintain this balance of forces, it is sometimes necessary Vto mount the guide sheaveflO upon an Outrigger 118 which may be attached tothe stud shaft 119 providedas journalsfrfor the guide sheaves 105, and a brace 120 attachedto the outer end of said Outrigger7 may be secured tothe stiffening angle 2 by a bolt 121 or other suitable fastening. p Y

A car 109, vor preferably a train of such cars under the control of a locomo-tive 122, is so positioned upon the track 114 that material from the discharge end of the loading conveyer will fall into said car, and when a locomotive is available for the purpose,'the successive cars may be moved during Athe loading operation'to distribute the coal to the successive cars. y Y Y As the machine advances the sockets 38 of the gathering chain B7, and the cutter bits 39 engage dislodged coal in the heap 123 and drag it outwardly'into the path of the flights of the atherinfr conve 7er. At the same time should fragments of dislodged coal be so interlocked as to render 'their movement impossible, or should masses of coal remain adhering tothe underlying strata, the cutter bits 39 will exea-vate a path for themselves in said masses, thereby undermining, and eventually dislodging the same tomove them onto the gathering conveyer. As the chain 37 moves around the sprocket wheel 40 a sufricient centrifugal force is developed to disengage the fragments of coal from the cutter bits, and to project them into the path of the liights of the conveyer. Owing to their flattened, shovel like form the carrier flights 17 slip under the coal, lift it from the mine floor and carry it into and along the trough 7 The inertia of the coal and the inclination of thetrough 7 cause more or less tendency for thepcoal to slide upon the flights 17, and this tendency is overcome by the interposition of the scraper flights'19 which insure continuous movement of the coal along the conveyer trough 7.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a method of operation wherein a longwall conveyer 124 has been substituted for the track 114, and this longwall conveyer 124 discharges onto a main conveyer`125 extending'along the mine entry to a suitable discharge point outside the mine.

Howeven I do not limit myself to the methods here illustrated nor to the precise construction shown, since they may be widely varied without departure from the spirit of my invention.

lhat I claim is: 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor trough, of a Vseries of continuously moving carrier elements adapted to slide over the mine floor-in front of the forward end of said trough to pass beneath and lift loose material from the mine door and carry it into and along said trough, laterally extending gathering means to move loose material into the path of saidwcarrier elements, and means to bodily advance the machine to engage said gathering means with said material.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor trough, Ofa series of continuously moving carrier elements adapted to slide over themine floorin front of the forward end of said trough to pass beneath and vlift loose material from the mine floor and carry it into and along said trough, scraper elements interposed between said carrier velements to cooperate therewith to move vsaid material, and means to move loose 'material into the path of said conveyor elements, and4 means tobodily move the machine to engage said gathering means with said material.

4. In a machine of the classdescribed, the

coi'nbination with an elongated conveyor trough` of a continuously moving chain adapted to travel longitudinally of said trough, a series of flat horizontally disposed carrier flights attached to and projecting laterally from said chain, a series of vertically disposed scraper flights attached to and projecting laterally from said chain between said carrier ilights, and means to move loose material into the path of said flights as and for the purpose set forth.

5. ln a machine of 4the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an elongated conveyor trough mounted upon said frame with its forward end in contact with the mine floor, ay series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to slide over the mine tloor in advance of said trough to engage loose material upon the mine floor and propel it into and along said trough, a horizontally extending supplemental frame projecting substantially perpendicularly from said main frame adjacent the mine tloor, a series of continuously moving mate rial engaging elements carried by said supplemental frame adapted to move loose material over the mine floor into the path of said conveyor elements as and for the purpose set forth.

(i. lin a machine of the class described, the combination with a main fra-me, of an elongated oonveyor trouoh mounted upon said main fra-me with its forward end in Contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to slide over the mine licor in advance of said trough to engage loose material upon the mine iloor and propel it into and along said trough, a horizontally extending supplemental frame projecting substantially perpendicularly from said main frame adjacent the mine ioor, a series of continuously lmoving material engaging elements carried by said supplemental frame adapted to move loose material over the mine floor into the path of said corveyor elements, and means to adjust the angular relation of said supplemental frame and said conveyor trough as and for the purpose set forth.

7. in a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an elongated conveyor trough mounted upon said main frame with its forward end in Contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to slide over the floor in advance of said trough to engage loose material upon the mine floor and propel it into and along said trough, s horizontally extending supplemental frame projecting substantially perpendicularly from said main frame adjacent the mine floor, an endless chain adapted to travel in guideivays upon the edges of said supplemental. frame, cutting bits attached to said chain and adapted to engage material upon the mine floor to move loose material into the path of said conveyor flights and to eut u path for said supplen'iental frame in immovable masses of material as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an elongated conveyor trough mounted upon said main frame with its forward end in contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to slide over the mine floor in advance of said trough to engage loose material upon the mine floor and propel it into and' along said trough, a horizontally extending suppleniental frame projecting substatnially perpendicularlv from said main frame adjacent the mine iooi an endless chain adapted to travel in guide- Ways upon the edges of said supplemental frame, material engaging elements attached to said chain and adapted to move loose material into the path of said conveyor elements, and means to vertically adjust said supplemental frame relative to the mine floor as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination With a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine iloor, of an elongated trough mounted upon said frame with its forward end in contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to slide over the mine floor in advance of said trough to engage loose material upon the mine floor and propel it into and along said trough, means including a series of continuously moving material engaging elements adapted to move loose material along the mine floor into the path of said conveyor elements, and means upon said main frame to move and guide the machine bodily over the mine floor as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a machine of the class described` the combination with a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine 'loor, of an elongated trough mount ed upon said frame With its forward end in contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to slide over the mine floor in advance of said trough to engage loose material upon the mi ne floor and propel it into and along said trough, means including a series of continuousljv moving material engaging elements adapted to move loose material along the mine floor into the path of said conveyor elements, two Winding drums mounted upon said main frame, a rope attached to and Windablc upon each of said drums and adapted to be connected to suitable abutments external of thev machine, and means to actuate either or both of said drums to Wind their respective ropes at either of two speeds or to resist the un- Winding of said ropes as and for the purpose set forth.

lili) 11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of an elongated conveyor trough mounted upon said frame with its forward end in contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to engage loose material upon the mine 'door and propel it into and along said-trough, a horizontally extending supplemental frame projecting perp ndiculaily from said main frame adjacent to the mine floor, a series of continuously moving material engagingele ments carried by said supplemental frame adapted to move loose n'. aterial over the mine floor into the path of said conveyor elements, and a scraper carried by and extending longitudinally of said supplemental frame adapted to engage the mine iioor inthe rear thereof as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main fra-me, of an elongated conveyor trough mounted upon said main frame with its forward end in Contact with the mine floor, a series of continuously moving conveyor elements adapted to engage loose material upon the mine floor and move it into and along said trough, a horizontally extending supplemental frame projecting perpendicnlarly from said main frame, adjacent to the mine floor, an endless chain adapted to travel in guideways upon the edges of said supplemental frame, cutting bits attached to said chain and adapted to engage material upon the mine floor to move it into the path of said conveyor elements, and means at the rearward side of said supplemental frame to confine loose material to the path of said cutter bits as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a machine of the class described, an arm adapted to advance laterally into a pile of material, gathering means on said arm for delivering the material'at one end thereof upon such advance, and a scraper to the rear of the trailing edge of said arm and carried by the latter, for the purpose described.

14. In a machine of the class described, an arm adapted to advance laterally into a pile of material, a chain traveling around said arm, material. engaging elements on said chain, whereby material is delivered at one end of the arm by the active elements upon the advance thereof, and a scraper to the rear of the idling elements and carried by the arm, for the purpose described.

15. In a machine of the class described, an elongated conveyorhaving traveling niaterial engaging elements working immediately adjacent amine iioor at the forward end of the conveyor, an arm arranged substantially at right angles to said conveyor at the forward end of the latter, elements traveling on said arm for delivering material to said material engaging elements, means for varying the angle of said arm to said c011- veyor, and means to advance the machine to engage the arm laterally with said material. i

elements traveling on saidv arm for deliveringmaterial to said material engaging elements, and adjustable strut means interposed between said arin and the machine body for regulating the angle of said ar to said conveyor.

17. In a machine of the class described,

an elongated conveyor having traveling ma-` terial engaging elements working immediately adjacent amine floor at the forward end of the conveyor, a bar extending longitudinally Aof the conveyor and terminating adjacent the forward end of the latter, a gathering arm supported by the forward end of said bar substantially rectangularlyto the conveyor for delivering material to the latter, a pivotal connection between the rear end of the bar and the machine frame for permitting vertical movement of the bar, and means for adjusting the` angular position of the bar relative tothe horizontal.

1'8. In a-machine of the class described, an elongated conveyor having traveling material engaging elements working immediately adjacent a mine floor at the forward end of the conveyor, a bar extending-longitudinally of the conveyor and terminating adjacent the forward end of the latter,1a gathering arm pivotally supported at the forwardV end of the bar for movement relaative theretoin a substantially horizontal plane, said gathering arm being adapted to deliver material to the conveyor, a pivotal connection between the rear end of thefbar and the machineframe for permitting vertical movement of the bar, means for adjusting the angular position of the bar relative to the horizontal, and means for adjusting the angular position ofsaid arm relative to said bar.

19. In a machineof the class described, an elongated conveyor having traveling materialy engaging elements working immediately adjacent a mine `licor-Aat the forward end of the conveyor, a-bar extending longi- Y tudinally of the conveyor and terminating adjacent the forward end of the latter, a gathering arm pivotally supported v,at the forwardend of the barlfor movement relative thereto in a `substantially horizontal plane, said gathering arm being adapted to deliver material to the conveyor, a pivotal connection between the rear end of the bar and themachine frame for permitting Vverto the horizontal, and an adjustable brace connecting said bar and said arm for regulating` their angular relation.

2l). ,ln a mai ,Le of the class described, the combination with a conveyor rough, of a series of continuously movingV carrier ele- .nents adapted to slide over the mine floor in advance of the forward end of said trough to pass beneath and lift loose material from the mine floor and carry it into and along said trough, and scraper elements interposed between said carrier elements and cooperating therewith to move said material as and for the purpose set forth.

2l. ln a machine of the class described, the combination with an elongated conveyor trough, of ar continuously moving chain adapted to travel longitudinal. of said trough, a series of flat horizontally disposed carrier iiights attached to and projecting laterally from said chain, and vertically disposed scraper nights attached to and projecting laterally from said chain between said carrier flights as and for the purpose set forth.

22. ln a machine of the class described, the conihination With two parallel troughs disposed in substantially the same horizontal planes, of a guideivay extending along each trough and beyond their ends. an endless chain arranged to travel in said guideways, a sprocket Wheel beyond the end of said guideivays about which said chain passes from one guideivay to the other, a series of i'lat horizontally disposed carrier flights attached to said chain and adapted to slide upon th bottom of said troughs, and a stationary scraper positioned adjacent said sprocket wheel innnediately above the path of said carriers and disposed to form obtuse angles iv'th the aevancing edges of the retive carriers as they pass beneath as and for the purpose set forth.

Q3. In a machine of the class described, an elongated conveyor frame, a series of continuousl y moving conveyor elements adapted to receive material from a mine floor and move it over said frame, a gathering device, and means to attach said gathering device to said frame at either side thereof to engage am deliver loose material to the receiving point of said moving conveyor element.

24. ln a machine of the class described, the combination with two parallel troughs lisposed in substantially the saine horizontal `ilanes, an endless chain arranged to travel iroughout said troughs, a series of conveyor rliehts attached to said chain and adapted to slide along; the bottoni of said trough to pro- ;z-ei material there along, of a gathering derive. and means for n'iounting said device lo deliver to one or the other of sait troughs.

ln a machine of the class deserihed, the combination of a conveyor frame comprising two parallel troughs, an endless chain arranged to travel throughout said troughs, a series of conveyer flights attached to said chain and adapted to slide along the bottom of said troughs to lpropel material there along, a gathering device, and means to support said device on said frame at either eide thereof to deliver to a selected trough.

2G. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of a conveyor frame comprising two parallel troughs, an endless chain arranged to travel throughout said troughs, a series of conveyor flights attached to said chain and adapted to slide along the bottoni of said troughs to propel material there along, an elongated gathering arm, means to mount said arm on said frame in laterally extending relation thereto to deliver material to a selected trough, and means to bodily advance said frame to engage said arm with loose material.

27. ln a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor trough, of a series of continuously moving conveyor elemonts adapted to slide over a mine floor in front of the forward end of said trough, and a gatl'iering device positioned to engage niaterial at the floor level and deliver it into the path of said conveyor elements on the mine floor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NILS D; LEVIN. 

